Alexandria, Home of the Ptolemies
Capital Cities
What: Capital City of Egypt during the Ptolemaic Era of Ancient Egypt. Alexandria is currently the largest City on the Mediterranean Sea
Where: North Coast of Egypt
When: Founded in 331BC and remained the capital city until 641AD when the Muslims conquered Egypt and moved the Capital to Fustat, now incorporated into Cairo
Who: Founded by Alexander the Great and ruled by General Ptolemy who later announced himself Pharaoh Ptolemy I and moved his Capital City to Alexandria
Roman Alexandria
Beginnings of Alexandria
332BC: City is founded by Alexander who saw the potential for 2 harbours for trade is a causeway could. Be built to the island of Pharos from the mainland. Chief architect, Dinocrates, is appointed to plan Alexandria as a replacement for Naucratis as the Hellenistic centre in Egypt. The previous Town of Ra-Kotis is swallowed up into the development but remains as the naturalised Egyptian centre of the city
320BC: Alexandria becomes the Capital City of Egypt
305BC: Ptolemy takes over as Pharaoh and founds the Ptolemaic Dynasty. He brings stature to Egypt by seizing Alexander’s corpse and burying this in a Golden Coffin in Alexandria. Alexandria now becomes the centre of trade between Alexander’s conquered world and the remainder of Europe within 50 years
283BC: The “Seat of the Muses”, better known as the Royal Library of Alexandria, was founded by Pharaoh Ptolemy, allegedly being modelled after the Aristotle’s Lyceum in Athens. This is where Euclid teaches his geometrical theorems and mathematics here and may well have taught Archimedes who in turn, returns home to teach and study geometry. Pharaoh Ptolemy dies and is succeeded by his son, Pharaoh Ptolemy II
280BC: Pharaoh Ptolemy’s planned Lighthouse is erected by Ptolemy II
220BC: Eratosthenes works out the Circumference of the Earth and works on a map of the stars
From 220BC onwards: Divisions form between the Egyptian, Greek and Jewish populations
144-116BC: Pharaoh Ptolemy VIII rules but has to contend with civil disobedience merging into civil warfare and he performs purges of the population
80BC: Alexandria is now swallowed by Roman and is under their jurisdiction
51BC: Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII succeeds to the throne of Egypt with his older sister Cleopatra VII. By 47BC the two siblings and spouses are engaged in a Civil War
The Lighthouse
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and served as a location and navigational aid to mariners
Alexander's Tomb
One of the Outstanding Mysteries left to unravel in Egypt’s long Ancient History. Buried in Memphis and then reinterred, but where?
Cleopatra’s Demise
How did Cleopatra become the last Pharaoh of Egypt?
Underwater
The Underwater World of Pharaoh Cleopatra’s Royal Palace and its surrounding support buildings and infrastructure, including the Pharos Lighthouse and shipwrecks
Necropolis
The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a series of Tombs of the former residents of Alexandria. Particularly considered as unique due to the mix of arts, religions and culture
Tsunami
How Boats in Alexandria ended up 3km inland from an underwater Earthquake from the other side of the Mediterranean Sea
Taposiris Magna
A city established by Pharaoh Ptolemy II of which the Temple of Osiris is now of focal interest as the suspected resting place of Cleopatra
The Library
The “Seat of the Muses” or Museon, better known as the Royal Library of Alexandria, the most famous Ancient Library in the World. Allegedly being modelled after the Aristotle’s Lyceum in Athens and may have held up to 750,000 scrolls
Later History
Siege of Alexandria in Julius Caesar’s Civil War
Battle of Alexandria during the final war with the Romans
Siege of Alexandria in the Byzantine-Persia Wars
Siege of Alexandria in the Rashidun conquest
Alexandrian Crusade which led to the sack of the city
Battle and Siege of Alexandria in the Napoleonic Wars
Expedition of Alexandria in the Napoleonic Wars
